The U.K. couple's youngest son Alex was 17 when he committed suicide in 2005. Then in 2014, their 30-year-old daughter, Rebecca, died after accidentally falling into Lake Michigan.

The tragedy of losing two children put Gerard at a crossroads.

"This is a time of decision. Why am I still here on Earth, quite honestly," Gerard said. "I wasn’t suicidal. Every day was so painful. He wants me there, why am I still on Earth? We call our ministry an awakening to God. An awakening to his calling in our lives. To be his hands and feet and not only share the good news, but specifically to alleviate the pain of the suffering."

Both Gerard and Jeannie will share their "Awakening to God" ministry with Battle Creek when they visit First Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The program is free and open to the public. The church is located at 111 Capital Ave NE.

Jeannie and Gerard Long lost their 17-year-old son, Alex, to suicide in 2005 and their daughter, Rebecca, to an accident in 2014. The couple will speak at First Presbyterian Church about their faith in an effort to inspire hope in others who are suffering.(Photo: Courtesy of Awakening to God Ministries)

Battle Creek native Lisa Brown worked with Gerard and his daughter Rebecca at Illinois-based Alpha USA, a Christian non-profit that leads faith-related discussion sessions at churches around the globe. She invited the grieving parents to share their story at First Presbyterian.

"They are still suffering and experience pain," Brown said. "They are also experiencing a great closeness to each other. This is for other people going through hard times, 'Is there a way out? Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Is there hope?'"

Gerard said he was "on the mountain top" as a successful banker in Great Britain. The family moved to Chicago area in 2003 after he accepted a position with HSBC.

"We had a wonderful marriage, three beautiful children, I was incredibly blessed as an ex-pat living in Lake Forest on the North Shore," he said. "Everything was great. Then in 2005, it was though Satan had been released on my family. From everything being amazing, it went completely the opposite way."

Gerard said his youngest son, Alex, was a popular athlete at his school. Yet slipped into a "disillusion depression" and took his own life in November of 2005.

"Jeannie went from shock to horror to anger, hatred," Gerard said. "With suicide is blame. Why did you bring us to America? To Chicago? To this school? From having beautiful love, she hated me, hated herself and hated God. We served God for 24 years, how could he allow this to happen? It was just utter hell. It was horrendous. She lost her faith for about two years. As much as she’s run away from God, I ran to God."

Bit by bit, Jeannie's faith in God was restored, due in large part to the work of Rebecca. After her brother died, she joined Alpha USA and eventually became its national director.

The exact circumstances of Rebecca's death are unknown. But Gerard said his daughter had blood sugar issues and, while out on a run, she took her shoes offnear Lake Michigan and likely fainted and fell in the water. She regained consciousness and called for help, and several bystanders called 911, but were unable to reach her. She caught hypothermia and drowned.

Gerard retired from Alpha USA at the end of 2014 and began traveling to testify for the Awakening to God ministries. Through the organization, they've offered courses on marriage counseling, grief, depression and suicide.

"Suffering is the biggest reason people don’t believe in God or lost their faith," Gerard said. "It is probably arguably the biggest issue for people in terms of faith. It’s a big topic. We’ll be putting some information in front of people to help them understand and journey through suffering."

Nick Buckley can be reached at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley